Musical humming instrument



July 4, 1950 J. THOMPSON MUSICAL HUMMING INSTRUMENT Filed May 25, 1945 Fqg Fq.l@

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| f IMWVMUWI INVENTOR. Josephus Thompson BY l Patented July 4, 1950 'U;I\1I'l`ll)v ,STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This .invention relates to musical instruments .or toys and particularly to such vdevices which, by `l-iumming into, may be made to imitate or reproduce sounds of other musical instruments.

The primary object of this invention is to prov-ide -a small, compact instrument of the kind stated, and which may -be easilymade and assembled out of relatively Vfew parts.

Another tobject is to provide such device with a baille plate which increases and renhances its senor-ity and resonance.

A further object is to `construct such Yinstrument with a removable diaphragm vso that the instrument body may be easily cleansed.

fStill another object is to provide .such in- -strument with a circuitous and restricted air passage.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, in which like par-ts are referred to and indicated 'by like reference characters and wherein:

form :of 'the instrument;

AFigure 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of the Figure l;

Figure 3 isa iront elevation thereof; -Figure 4 is a cross-,sectional view thereof, taken along the line and inthe direction of the arrows 4-4 -ofthe Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side view of the top portion vthereof with parts broken away'to show construction;

Figure 6 is ,an inside or sectional view of the instrument, taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows :6-6 of the Figure 2;

Figure "7 is `a side view of a diaphragm used in the device;

.Figure is a bottom view thereof;

Figure 9 is a side view of the vibrant member cap .or part that lits over and retains the diaphragm';

vFigure 10 is a top view thereof;

Figure 11 is an insideor sectional view Vof the instrument, taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows l I-il of the Figure 2; and

Figure 12 is a side viewof the bottom portion `of the instrument. with -parts broken away to show construction.

'Figures of a modified form Figure 13 is a top .plan view of a modied form of .the invention;

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the instrument, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows |4--I4 of the Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a front end view thereof;

Figure 16 is .a cross-sectional view thereof, taken along the line and in the direction Aof the arrows Iii- I6 of the Figure 13;

Figure 17 is aside view of the top portion of the instrument, with parts broken away to show construction Figure 18 is an inside or sectional view, taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows |8-l8 of the Figure 14;

Figure 19 is an inside or sectional View, taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows IQ-IS of the Figure 14; and

Figure 20 is a side View of the bottom portion of the instrument, with parts thereof broken away to show construction.

Preferred form The preferred form of the invention consists of a resonance box or chamber, broadly indicated by the reference character 3U, and which has .a removable vibratory member mounted thereon.

The bottom portion 32 of the chamber is a fiat, circular piece vof plastic material which has an inwardly turned brim portion therearound. It has two small spaced holes or egresses .38 eX- tending therethrough which are about threesixteenths of an inch in diameter. Small tubulai portions i2 extend inward from the flat inside wall .36 of the bottom portion, around the Aopening y38, as is clearly shown in the Figures l1 and 12.

The top portion 3| is shaped somewhat like the bottom portion 32 and has a similar inwardly turned iiange lwhich abuts the yaforesaid flange on the bottom portion 32. The two portions 3| and 32 are cemented or otherwise joined together `at the bead 33 to form an air-tight joint thereat.

One side `of the abutting flange portions is open to form the ingress or orifice 34. The body or joined portions 3l and 32 of the instrument are shaped to form a mouthpiece, somewhat as indicated by the reference character v35 at the said orice.

The inner' wall 31 which is parallel to the other inside wall 36 has a cup 4l therein which partially and loosely ts over the short tube 42,

somewhat as shown in the Figures 2 and 4. Air blown in the chamber 30 at the ingress or opening 34 can escape only through the egress 38. However, before passing through the egress 38, it has to pass along the outside of the short tube 42 and into the cup 4I. A free flow of air is restricted and as a result, a slight air pressure is maintained inside the chamber immediately in back of the' diaphragm 46.

The top portion 3l has a round hole 43 therethrough which is about one-half inch in diameter. The portion 3l is recessed around the hole 43, as is indicated by the reference character 48 in The vibrant member consistsof a diaphragm` and a removable cap. The diaphragm in turn consists of a small circular piece of thin membranous material 46 securely mounted on the fiber ring 41. The diaphragm is insertedin the recess 48 of the top portion 3l and so that the open membrane squarely fits over the hole 43. The cap 44 is round and has severalsmall vents or air holes 45 therein. It also has a flange 49 therearound whichtightly iits into the recess 48 over the edge of .the diaphragm, as shown in the Figure `2. The cap 44 is hollowed inside and permits the diaphragmto expand and vibrate therein.' ,It may be removed if desired to cleanse the instrument or to replace the thin diaphragm if necessary. -f

Modified Form The modified form of instrument closely resembles the preferred form in appearance. Outwardly it looks the same, except that the modified form does not-have the prominent removable cap 44thereon.

lThe bottom portion 62 ofthe instrument has an inwardly or upwardly turned flange therearound. It has two spaced vents or egress openings 68 and has supports 12 for retaining the diaphragm member 46 Vand 41. The supports 12 are simply small yblocks of plastic material, each of which has an inwardly facing shoulder 13. The, supports are arranged so that all the shoulders form a circular mount for the diaphragm member.

The top portion 6l of the modied form also has aninwardly or downwardly turned flange, the edge of which is cemented to the aforesaid upwardly turned flange. .One side of the joined portions .is open as at 64. and is similarly provided with a suitable mouthpiece 65. It has several small vents 15 therethrough which are over the diaphragm 46 mounted on the supports 12. The space inside the box or chamber 60 is partitioned off by a wall 69. This wall 69 extends between the two facing inside walls 68 and 67 and forms an arcuate passage 1I inside the box. The

partition has openings 16 through which air may y ment, for example, the mouthpiece 35 is placed to the lips and a tune or sound is hummed'into the chamber. The sound Waves set the diaphragm 46 in vibration. These vibrations are transmitted to the flat Wall 36 which acts asa from original oral sounds.

"also come withinV 4 l baflie and are then amplified and made resonant. Normal breath will pass through the instrument and out through the egress opening 38 as aforestated.

Modifications of tone may be obtained by either closing one of the egress openings 38 with a finger or by partially closing both openings simultaneously. By closing vand opening the egress Vents as g'just stated, the air pressure in the chamber is increased or decreased, as desired. The diaphragm 46 stretches or contracts in accordance with the pressure against its inner surface. `The vibrations thereof caused by the humming sound produced by the player are varied accordingly vso that a Wide range and wide variety of tones or sounds may be produced The modified form of the instrument is played in the same manner.

Having thus disclosed the preferred forms of the instrument, it is to be understood that the invention as described and illustrated is not to be regarded in aV limited sense, since there may be other forms-or modifications thereof which the scope of the appended claims. I f

'I claim:

1. A musical humming-instrument, comprising in combination, a'chamber member having an opening therein fororal sound waves, `and two circular flat spaced wall portions, one of the said wall portions vhaving a diaphragm therein and the other of thesaid wall portions being flat and forming a` bale for the diaphragm, and-3a circuitous air passage in the chamber member. 7 v f 2. A musical humming'instrument, comprising in combination, a resonance box including two spaced wall portions and having a mouthpiece forming an opening for oral sound waves and an ingress to a circuitous air-passage, one of the said wall portions having 'the egress'for the said air passage, rand a diaphragm mounted in one of the wall portions capableof being'vibrated Aby the said sound waves', ltheotlfier of the said wall portions forming a baie for the said diaphragm. Y

3. A musical humming instrument, comprising in combination, a resonance box including two circularflat spaced 'wall portions and having. a mouthpiece therebetween forming" an opening for oral sound waves and an ingress to an air passage therethrough, 'one of the said wall portions having the egress for the said air passage,'aplurality` of circuitous 'air passages in the said box between the said ingre'ssand egress restricting the. flow of air through the said air passage, and a diaphragm mounted in', one of the wall portions capable ofbeing vibrated by the said sound waves, the ,other of .the said wall portions forming a baiiie" for' the'said diaphragm.

4. A musicalhumming instrument, .comprising in combination, aresonance box `ir'iclliding two circular fiat spaced wall portions and having a mouthpiece therebetween formingl `.an opening fororal'sound waves andan ingressto an air passage therethrough, one of the said wall portions having the egress for the said air passage and having a` wtubular .passage portionv therearound, a cup. member receiving the said tubular passage portion and being spaced therefrom mountedf'onthe 'other of the said wallportions, and a diaphragm'mounted'in one ofv thev wall portions capable of `being* vibra'tedy by" the said' 'sound waves, .the other ofl the's'a'id wall portionsforming a baffle for theisaiddia hr mf 5. A musical humming instrument, comprising in combination, a resonance box including two circular ilat spaced wall portions and having a mouthpiece therebetween forming an opening for oral sound waves and an ingress to an air passage therethrough, one of the said wall portions having the egress for the said air passage, a partition member mounted between the spaced wall portions forming a curved portion of the circuitous air passage between the said ingress and egress and restricting the flow of air through the said air passage, and a vibrant member including a diaphragm and spaced supports therefor mounted on one of the wall portions and capable of being affected by the said sound waves, the said wall portion being flat and forming a baffle for the sound Waves emanating from the said diaphragm.

6. A musical humming instrument comprising in combination, a resonance box including two spaced walls and having a mouthpiece therebetween, two spaced partitions between the said spaced Walls forming two circuitous air passages, one of the said spaced walls having an opening for each of the air passages, and a vibrant member mounted on one of the said spaced walls between the spaced circuitous air passages.

J OSEPHU S THOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 209,274 Montagne Oct. 22, 1878 270,543 Frost Jan. 9, 1883 392,504 Elmendorf et al. Nov. 6, 1888 550,431 Adler et al. Nov. 26, 1895 655,109 Pitt July 31, 1900 700,986 Smith May 27, 1902 1,014,961 Fawkes Jan. 16, 1912 2,158,445 Weiss May 16, 1939 20 2,452,658 Horne Nov. 2, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 327,036 Germany Oct. 8, 1920 

